Senator Chuck Schumer praised the confirmation of President Joe Biden’s 200th judge to the federal bench as a significant victory for diversity and a momentous day for America.
The confirmation took place on May 22 in the U.S. Senate, underscoring the impact a president can have on the judicial branch, especially as the November election approaches.
During his term, President Donald Trump appointed 234 judges, including three to the U.S. Supreme Court. President Biden’s nominees are on track to surpass these numbers, although confirmations typically slow down leading up to an election.
The latest confirmation was U.S. Magistrate Judge Angela M. Martinez as a U.S. District Court judge for the District of Arizona. She replaces the retiring Judge James Soto, appointed by President Barack Obama in 2014.
President Biden’s most notable judicial appointment so far is Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first black female member of the court. Her confirmation vote was unique as no seat was available at the time. Justice Jackson was sworn in on June 30, 2022.
President Biden has appointed 42 judges to federal courts of appeal, 155 to federal district courts, and two to the Court of International Trade, with a focus on diversity and representation in the judiciary.
Senator Schumer described the latest appointment as a significant milestone and a positive development for America, highlighting the shift towards a more diverse judiciary.
President Obama also commended the confirmation of Judge Martinez, emphasizing the importance of judicial appointments in shaping the future of the country.
Overall, President Biden’s judicial appointments reflect a commitment to protecting the freedoms and liberties of all Americans, with a focus on upholding democratic principles and ensuring a fair and just legal system.
Senator Chuck Schumer hailed the latest appointment as “an incredible milestone” and “a great day for America,” at a presser after the vote.
“In the past, most of the people who got on the bench, or all too many, were white male partners at big fancy law firms. That’s changed.”
“We’re catching up but we’ve got a ways to go,” he said. “But the bench, for too long, didn’t look like America—it only looked like a portion of America.”
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said “this is an exciting and historic moment.”
“I think we’ve met [President Biden’s] request to bring more diversity to the federal courts,” he said.
“When you walk into a courtroom and your freedom and your business and your family’s interests are at stake, you’d like to look up and see a judge that you believe really understands … your plight and what you face.”
President Obama celebrated Judge Martinez’s confirmation in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
“@POTUS just confirmed his 200th judge – not an easy accomplishment with a narrow majority in the Senate. And more than half are women and people of color,” he wrote.
“Judges have the power to roll back progress or keep us moving forward; to protect our basic liberties or take them away. It’s another reminder of what’s at stake in this election, and why it’s so important to vote,” he added.
Stacy Robinson contributed to this report.
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